Sweden investigates possible breach of Baltic Sea cable
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Estonian mine hunter Sakala patrols near a subsea infrastructure in the Gulf of Finland, in the Baltic Sea.
PHOTO: REUTERS
STOCKHOLM - Sweden is investigating a possible breach of an undersea cable off the country’s south-western coast in the Baltic Sea, the coast guard said on Feb 21, in an area where multiple seabed cables have been damaged in recent months.
The Baltic Sea region is on alert and the Nato alliance has boosted its presence after a series of power cable, telecom and gas pipeline outages since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.
“We have received information about a suspected cable breach and the prosecution service has chosen to start a preliminary investigation,” a coast guard spokesperson told Reuters.
A coast guard vessel has been sent to the scene off the island of Gotland, the spokesperson added.
Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said the government was being briefed and that damage to any undersea infrastructure was particularly concerning amid the current security situation.
It was not immediately clear which type of cable was involved or when the possible damage had taken place.
The coast guard declined to comment further. REUTERS
